The Cross River State Government has acquired 730 electric vehicles, comprising 10 intercity buses, 20 shuttle buses, 500 tricycles, and 200 motorcycles, as part of an ambitious plan to transform public transportation, reduce commuting costs, and create economic opportunities for residents.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, disclosed this during a media interaction in Calabar, describing the acquisition as the foundation of a new transportation ecosystem designed to move the state away from dependence on fossil fuels.

According to him, the electric mobility initiative is expected to significantly reduce transportation costs for commuters while improving earnings for transport operators.

He said Governor Bassey Otu’s administration intends to cut transportation fares on major routes by as much as 70 per cent, citing the lower operating costs associated with electric vehicles.

“If you take the cost of moving from 8 Miles to Watt Market today, it is about N600. When these buses commence operation, we intend to bring that cost down to between N150 and N200 because we are not buying fuel,” Cobham said.

The commissioner explained that the 10 electric buses, each capable of carrying about 50 passengers, would initially serve major urban routes, while the 20 shuttle buses would cater to underserved communities. The 500 electric tricycles and 200 electric motorcycles, he added, would be distributed across the state’s three senatorial districts as part of a broader empowerment programme.

He noted that the vehicles represent only the first phase of a long-term strategy to modernise transportation and stimulate economic growth.

“These are seed infrastructures that will usher in a completely new era in the transportation ecosystem. More acquisitions will follow as the programme expands,” he said.

Cobham disclosed that charging infrastructure is already being deployed across the state, including fast-charging stations, to support the operation of the electric vehicles.

He added that beneficiaries of the electric tricycles could potentially earn up to N15,000 daily due to the elimination of fuel expenses, which currently consume a substantial portion of transport operators’ income.

Beyond the electric mobility programme, the commissioner highlighted other achievements of the ministry since the current administration took office in August 2023.

He said the ministry inherited a weak institutional structure and immediately embarked on rebuilding its administrative framework while tackling pressing transportation challenges.

Among the reforms introduced were the reintroduction of state colours and security numbering for commercial vehicles, measures aimed at improving order and security within the transport sector.

The government also renovated six dilapidated bus stops in Calabar and commissioned a comprehensive transportation feasibility study to identify long-term solutions for road, marine and agricultural transportation.

Cobham further disclosed that private investors have expressed interest in partnering with the state on major transportation projects, including a proposed 4,000-capacity trailer park along the Odukpani-Akamkpa axis intended to decongest traffic in Calabar.

On rail transportation, he said the proposed Grand Littoral Rail Project remains on course despite delays arising from federal approval processes.

According to him, the state government is optimistic that construction activities will commence once the remaining regulatory requirements are concluded.

The commissioner maintained that the reforms and investments being undertaken by the Otu administration are aimed at creating a sustainable, affordable and efficient transportation system capable of supporting economic growth across Cross River State. (TRIBUNE)